Five of a family sentenced to death

Matara Magistrate Damith Thotawatte yesterday sentenced to death five family members including two women after they were found guilty of clubbing to death a 44-year-old resident of Gandara, Kottegoda, in 2009,

The victim had been put to death because he had objected to a love affair involving a member of the family and another individual.

The Attorney General (AG) had filed indictments against the five suspects, in the Matara High Court, for the murder which had taken place on or before 15 January 2009. Matara Magistrate Thotawatte, who deemed that the charges filed against the suspects had been proved beyond a semblance of doubt, sentenced them to death.